Said heeshey



(No Model.)

` 2 Sheets---SheeijI l; B. `HERSIIEY- & C. A. HITCHCOCK.

ORE SEPARATOR.

No. 276,534. Paented Apr. 24,1883.`

` Elgin/1re] ons'.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' BENJAMINHERSHEY AND CHARLES A. HITCHCOCK, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVA- NIA, ASSIGNORS OF ONE-HALF TO JOSEPH A. EGE AND BENJAMIN F. THORNTON, BOTH OF BRADFORD, PENNSYLVANIA; SAID HERSHEY ASSIGNOR OF ONE-TWENTIETH TO SAID HITCHCOCK.

ORE-SEPARATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 276,534, dated April 24, 1883.

` Application tiled December 18, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern y Be it known that we, BENJAMIN HEESHEY and CHARLEs A. HITCHCOCK, citizens of the United States, residing at Erie, in the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Ore- Separators, ot' which the following is a specitication.

The object of our invention is to provide a 1o novel and eflicient machine for separating ore in such manner that the gangue will be so acted upon that it is stratified, the particles arranging themselves according to their specic gravities, whereby the heavier and more valuable particles form the lower strata. This we accomplish by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l represents a side elevation of an apparatus constructed in accordance with our 2o invention; Fig. `2, an dhd elevation of the same; Fig. 3, a top or plan view of a copper; frame-work designed to be used on one of the troughs; Fig. 4, a section taken transversely through the amalgamating-trough and its inz 5 ner copper trough and copper frame; Fig. 5,'a

section taken transversely through the separating-trough and its inner copper amalgam ating-trough; Fig. 6, an enlarged view ot' a portion of one of the troughs, with the devices for separatingthe ligh terfrom the heavier y strata of material.

The frame of this apparatus consists of the bottom pieces, A, upon which the side sills, B, rest. Inclined posts or side pieces, B', are se- 3 5 cured to and rise from the sills, and are connected at their upper ends with the bars or stringers C. The frame also includes vertical end posts, B'y, which support the ends of the stringers, and cross-bars D, which connect the 4o upper end portions of the frame. It will be understood, however, that any other suitable arrangement of bars and braces can be employed, so as to form a strong, substantial frame, in which supports and bearings are l length and width, and which are suspended,

one above the other, the one, E, by means of 5o links a,and the oue,E, by links a; and suitable rollers, a. These troughs are preferably made of wood, for the sake of lightness, and each is open at one end, so as to admit of the free discharge of the material. The trough E may 5 5 be provided with an amalgamating-trough, e, which is located in the bottom thereof, and is used for `holding any free gold that may be present in connection with sulphurets, and. which it is desirable to save. It' requisite, 6o each trough can be provided with a copper trough for the purpose stated. These troughs "are given a reciprocating movement'or longitudinal shake by means ot1 the pitmen e', connecting with the troughs at one end by the pins fastening the lower ends of links a, and at the opposite ends Connectingwith the double cranks d. These crankshafts have their bearings in the vertical end posts, B", and are provided at one end with the bevel- 7e gears F, which mesh with bevel-gears F upon a vertical shaft F2, which is supported at its lower end in a suitable step,f, at the base ot' the machine. The upper end of said vertical rotary shaft passes through a bearing in au extension of one of the cross-bars D, and is provided with a belt-pulley,f. The lower crank-shaft d is provided on one ot its ends with a pulley, G, for a belt, which will be here- K, Figs. 1 and 6, indicates a thin knife edged plate extending horizontally at the discharge end of each one ot' the separating troughs, and set at such distances above the bottom ot' the trough that any proportional 85 amount of the material treated in the trough,

4 and which it is desired to save, will, while the material passes to the discharge end 'of the trough, pass under said plate, and be directed bythelatter into the receiving end ot' the 9o trough below, while the remaining upper por tion of the mass treated will pass over said plate as tailings and be conducted off by the chute H, which latter can be simply a downwardly-inclined extension of the plate K.

As it is practically impossible at one operainafter referred to. 8o

' tion of the large quantities of material which is notrich in gold. These devices are supplemented by the following means, which are adaptedy for the more elaborate and safe handling of the portions which have been enriched by previous operations.

L indicates a wooden trough, which is similar in construction to the trough E. This trough, at one ofits ends,is suspended by links a, pivoted to the frame ofthe machine, and at its opposite end supported on rollers O. These rollers are pivoted to uprights b, which also provide bearings for a shaft, L', carrying a drum or cylinder, M, or having an enlarged cylindrical portion which is provided with a peripheral series of horizon tal blades or wings, m, so as to constitute a rotary elevator. One end of the shaft L extends through a easing, m', in which the said rotary blade-cylinder is located, and is provided with a pulley, W, driven by a belt7 g2, from the pulley G, as shown in Fig. l. The shield or casing m, which partially surrounds this'rotary elevator, has a chute, m2, for discharging the tailings. The trough L is provided with an inner copper trough, g, eXtendin gfrom end to end thereof, and bent up at one end, as indicated at g.

As it is important that the several troughs should be so hung as to be capable of an independent adjustment, so as to be suspended at different degrees of inclination, each one of the bell-crank levers L2 is pivoted at its iniddle, and at its upper end is provided with a slot, L3, through which a bolt or set-screw passes and is secured on the frame of the machine. By such means the levers can be turned about their pivots, so as to raise or lower their lower arms, and then secured in position by means of the set-screws. The trough E is made curved at or near its middle portion, as at c2, and on each side of said curve it is made straight and inclined downwardly to its ends.

S indicates a net or frame, made of copper wires or strips s, said frame being adapted to lie in one of the troughs, in the present example it being located in the trough L, as shown in Fig. 4; but, if desired, one of such copper frames can be located iu each of the troughs.

T indicates a hopper, which is arranged for feeding the material into the upper trough, E.

It will be observed that the links supporting the trough E are hung upon the lower ends of the bell-crank levers, so as to incline toward one end of the machine, and that the upper or highest end of the trough is at such end of the apparatus, the open or discharge end of the trough E being higher than the other end, over which latter end the hopper is located. The length of these links between their respective pivots should so far exceed the length of stroke ofthe crank operating the pitman connected with the said trough that while the crank makes a complete revolution the lower end of each link will describe only alimited are of a circle; also, the links are pivotally connected to the bell-crank levers in such manner that on the back-stroke of the pitman they will still be in-an inclined position, whereby on the forward stroke of the pitman the trough will rapidly rise into the higher position, as indicated by dotted lines y, Fig. 1.

The operation is as follows: Shaft F2 being rotated, motion will be transmitted to the crank-shafts d through the medium of the bevel-gears, and hence the pitmen connecting the crank portions of said shafts with the troughs will impart a reciprocating motion to the latter. The material to be treated is by any suitable means fed into one end of the upper trough, and owin g to the reciprocating motion of the latter the material will be carried forward and upward to the discharge end of the trough. This forward and upward feed of the material is attained by reason of the manner of suspending the trough, since while the trough, in its forward and upward motion, will carry with itthe material, the sudden return or backward and downward movement of the trough, caused by the arrangement of links and revolution of the crank-shaft, will cause a momentary suspension of the contents of the trough, the said contents then fallin g or resting ICO on the bottom of the trough at an advanced point, corresponding with the stroke of the crank, the length and inclination of the links, and the speed at which the crank revolves.

It may here be observed that a little practice will enable the operator to adjust the bellcrank and links for the vproper treatment of any particular kind of material to be treated.

During the above operation one very iniportant result is attained-namely, the stratification of the material. This results as the effect of separate but simultaneously operat ing cranks: First, the motion of the trough will cause such a shifting of the particles that the heavier ones will gravitate to the bottom of the trough, and, secondly, when the bottom of the trough, in its downward and backward movement, momentarily leaves or shifts away from the mass, which is substantially in suspension, there is a tendency to create a vacuum between the bottom of the trough and its contents.

The plates or blades K for separating the material into two layers are arranged in the troughs E E', as low as consistent with the saving of the valuable portion of the mass, which latter will pass under the plates or blades, while the tailings or less valuable portions, owing to their lightness, form the upper strata and pass over the plates or blades to the dischargespouts H. In order to conduct the lower strata from one trough to another to secure further separation ofthe same, we provide a depending inclined plate, K', which is IIO connected with or adjacent to the outer edge ot the horizontal plate K of each trough, in such manner that the lower strata in theupper trough, E, will be retarded in its outward passage from the saidtrough and deflected di?` rectly downward tothe receiving end of the trough E,"while the lower strata in the trou gli E will be deilected in a like manner into the trough beneath it, which, as here shown, is the amalgamating-trough L. It will thus be seen that the mass is not only stratified, but the more valuable portion-that is, the lower strata-is directed from one trough to another for further separation, while the tailings pass over the horizontal plates or blades into the dischargespouts.

When it is desired to employ mercury for immediate amalgamation the trough L is brought :into use. The object of this trough is to provide an amalgamating device which can be silvered or amalgamated, .to furnish a receptacle within which an excess of mercury can be safely used without danger of loss of either the mercury or the amalgam, and to serve, in connection with its operating mechanism, for a slow, safe, and certain handling and treatment of the material, so that the entire mass shall be strated, as in the rst-described process, whereby the gold shall come into such direct and continued contact with the mercury that every particle of the mass which may be in a tit condition for combining with mercury will remain below the dischargingline of `the trough, while the remainder or refuse will be thrown out by the rotary elevator. Any other heavy and valuable material-such as coated gold and sulphurets,which do noteombine with quicksilver-are also retained in the trough until they shall,by reason ot' their accumulation, reach the discharge-line ot' the trough. The copper-frame (shown in Fig. 3) is also to be silvered, and is designed to furnish additional amalgamating-surface for the free gold. This net or 4frame-work, which can, however,

be omitted, it' desired,`serves, by reason of its cross-rods, as rifies for the retention of mate rials of value, its upper surfaces constituting bearings for the lighter contents of the trough asthey are by the motion of the trough earried to the discharge end thereof. It is desirable to remove the material from the disch arge end ot the trough with as little disturbance to the lower contents of the trough aspossible. To such end the blades of the rotary blade-cylinder, constituting the elevator hereinbefore referred to, raise the upper portion ofthe m aterial through the casin g surrounding the bladecylinder, and discharge the material into the spout leading from said casing. The bladecylinder will be so set that the outer edge of the blades will dip as deep in the trough as may be required to remove a portion of its contents, the blades raising such material as comes within their reach. The remaining portions of the material in the trough are to be treated or removed, as required.

We do not here claim theconstruction and arrangement of trough and its concomitants for amalgamating by the use ot' mercury, as such will constitute the subjectQmatter of a separate application for Letters Patent.

We are aware that ore-separators have heretofore been provided with reciprocating trays or troughs located one above the other, the material being treated passing successively from one tray to the other; also, that the tailings from quartz-mills have heretofore been run through a stationary water-sluice having end where the material is discharged arranged in a plane above its end where the material is received, and such elevated discharge end provided with a plate or blade for separating the ore into two layers, combined with mechanism for supporting, reciprocating,raising, and lowering the trough, whereby the ore is stratified, substantially as described.

2. The combination, in an ore-separator, of aseries of troughs located one above the other, and the upper trough provided with a plate or blade at its discharge end to separate the mass being treated into two layers, with means for deflecting that layer which passes under the separating-plate into the trough below for further separation, and means for carrying 0E that layer which passes over the separatingplate, substantially as described. Y

3. The combination, in an ore-separator, of a series of troughs supported one above the other, with their ends where the material is IIO discharged arranged in a plane'above ytheir ism for reciprocating the troughs, a plate secured at the discharge end of the upper trough for separating the material into two layers, means for directing the layer which passes under the separating-plate into the trough below for further separation, and a dischargechute for carrying off the layer which passes over the plate, substantially as described.

4; The combination, in an oreseparator, of a series of troughs arranged one above the other, mechanism for vibrating the same, a plate secured at the discharge endet the upper trough for separating the material into two layers, and a depending plate at the outer end of the separating-plate for detlecting the layer passing under the latter into the trough below for further separation, substantially as described. i y

5. The combination, in an ore-separator, of a series ot troughs arranged one above the other, mechanism for reciprocating the same,

IIS

a plate secured to the discharge end of the upper trough for separating the material into two layers, a depending plate located at the outer end of the separating-plate for deflecting the layer passing under the latterinto the trough below for further separation, and a discharge-chiite for conveying oft' the layer passing over the separating-plate, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with the separatingtrough, of bell-crank levers L2, pivoted at their angles, the links a, pivoted to one arm of such levers and to the trough, and means whereby the other arm of the levers can be adjusted and held, substantially as and for the purpose described. l

7. The combination, with a series of separating-'troughs arranged one above the other, of posts at the sides of the troughs, the bellcrank levers pivoted at their angles to the zo posts, the links pivoted to one arm of the le- BENJAMIN HERSHEY. CHARLES A. HITCHCOCK.

Witnesses:

W. W. BLow, J. W. CUTHBERT. 

